The owner of a deer injured in a suspected chemical attack says he may offer a reward to help catch the culprit.

Kenny Gracey says the deer, named Yanas, suffered burns to its hide after some sort of chemical appears to have been poured on it.

The incident happened after the animal was left in a pen at the Scarva Game Fair over the weekend.

The animal was secured in her pen on Saturday after being taken to be shown at the event. But on Sunday morning it was discovered that a pin had been pulled out of the gate.

The deer, and a donkey who often travels with her for company, were still inside - but Yanna was suffering from a number of marks on her hide where the hair appeared singed and the skin irritated.

The burned deer

Mr Gracey, who runs the Forthill Farm in Tandragee, Co Armagh, often brings animals to fairs across Northern Ireland.

He told Belfast Live: “We display animals every year, like the donkey, lambs, pigs and that, but it’s great for kids to see a deer up close. Sure even adults wouldn’t have seen a deer up close. But what’s happened here, someone’s got in during the night and it looks like they’ve poured something on her.

“Initially it was thought she might have been slashed, but thankfully that’s not what happened. The vet looked at her and the skin is blistered. It looks like it’s been a chemical of sort sort has been poured on her. I’m thinking of a reward for anyone who gives me information, I’ve had a few business people contact me to put up a reward, but we’ll see what happens.”